2:Forging a New Constitution. Essential Question How do new ideas change the way people live?

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1 2:Forging a New Constitution Essential Question How do new ideas change the way people live?

2 The Need for Change Bold action helped the nation overcome the serious shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. Guiding Question What problems did the government face under the Articles of Confederation? People were becoming convinced that the government was too weak to deal with the country's problems. Serious economic difficulties. After the war, the United States went through a depression. Wartime damage to Southern plantations =a sharp drop in rice exports. Trade also declined when British closed the West Indies market to American merchants. The little money the government did have went to pay debts to foreign countries. This resulted in a serious shortage of money in the United States.

3 A Rebellion is Brewing Economic troubles hit farmers hard. Unable to sell their goods, they could not pay their taxes and debts. This led state officials to seize farmers' lands and throw them in jail. This treatment angered many farmers. Some began to view the new government as just another form of tyranny.they wanted the government to issue paper money and make new policies to help those in debt. A group of farmers in Massachusetts made this plea to state officials: "Surely your honours are not strangers to the distresses [problems] of the people but... know that many of our good inhabitants are now confined in [jail] for debt and taxes." from "Petition from the Town of Greenwich, Massachusetts"

Shay s Rebellion Resentment boiled in Massachusetts. The farmers' revolt grew. In January 1787, Shays led a force of about 1,200 supporters toward the federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Shays and his followers fled, and the uprising was over. Still, Shays's Rebellion frightened Americans. Concern grew that the government could not handle unrest and prevent violence.

4 Shay s Rebellion Resentment boiled in Massachusetts. The farmers' revolt grew. In January 1787, Shays led a force of about 1,200 supporters toward the federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts. Wanted to seize guns and ammunition. The state militia ordered the advancing farmers to halt and then fired over their heads. The farmers did not stop. The militia fired again, killing four farmers. Shays and his followers fled, and the uprising was over. Still, Shays's Rebellion frightened Americans. Concern grew that the government could not handle unrest and prevent violence. On hearing of the rebellion, George Washington wondered whether "mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government." Daniel Shays forced courts in the western part of the state to close. The goal was to stop judges from legally taking away farmers' lands.

5 Slavery in the New Republic The Revolutionary War showed clash between the American belief in liberty and the practice of slavery. Between 1776 and 1786, 11 states all except South Carolina and Georgia outlawed or taxed the importation of enslaved people. Slavery existed and was legal in every state. In the North it was not a major source of labor. The North began working abolish slavery. 1774, Quakers in Pennsylvania founded the first American antislavery society. Six years later Pennsylvania passed a law for the gradual freeing of enslaved people. Between 1783 and 1804, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey passed laws that gradually ended slavery there.

Most of their children had to attend separate schools from white children.

6 African Americans Face Discrimination African Americans were barred from many public places. Only a few states gave them the right to vote. Most of their children had to attend separate schools from white children. In response, free African Americans set up their own churches, schools, and aid groups. Slavery continued to spread south of Pennsylvania. (Right) Denmark Vesey

7 The Question of Slavery in the Young Nation The plantation system depended on slave labor. White Southerners feared their economy could not survive without it. A number of slaveholders freed slaves anyway. 1782, Virginia passed a law that encouraged manumission - the # of free blacks increased. Around this time, leaders were seeing that the Articles of Confederation needed to be strengthened. The question of slavery would make those discussions more difficult. I. WHEREAS application hath been made to this present general assembly, that those persons who are disposed to emancipate their slaves may be empowered so to do, and the same hath been judged expedient under certain restrictions: Be it therefore enacted, That it shall hereafter be lawful for any person, by his or her last will and testament, or by any other instrument in writing, under his or her hand and seal, attested and proved in the county court by two witnesses, or acknowledged by the party in the court of the county where he or she resides to emancipate and set free, his or her slaves, or any of them, who shall thereupon be entirely and fully discharged from the performance of any contract entered into during servitude, and enjoy as full freedom as if they had been particularly named and freed by this act. Explaining: Why did farmers in Massachusetts rebel in 1787?

The Constitutional Convention Guiding Question: How did leaders reshape the

Although the American Revolution led to a union of 13 states, it had not yet

Some leaders satisfied with independent state governments (similar to the old

8 The Constitutional Convention Guiding Question: How did leaders reshape the government? Although the American Revolution led to a union of 13 states, it had not yet created a nation. Some leaders satisfied with independent state governments (similar to the old colonial governments.) Others wanted a strong national government. They demanded a change in the Articles of Confederation. Supporting reform: James Madison, a Virginia planter, and Alexander Hamilton, a New York lawyer.

to the exigencies [needs] of the Union." George Washington not enthusiastic about the meeting - Shay s Rebellion changed his mind.

9 The Convention Begins September 1786, Hamilton called for a convention in Philadelphia to discuss trade issues. He suggested that this convention consider what possible changes were needed to make "the Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies [needs] of the Union." George Washington not enthusiastic about the meeting - Shay s Rebellion changed his mind. Agreed to attend the Philadelphia convention - the meeting took on greater importance. Convention began in May well into the summer - one of the hottest summers on record.

10 Who Was There and Who Was Not 55 delegates - planters, merchants, lawyers, physicians, generals, governors, and a college president. Three of the delegates were under 30 years of age - one, Benjamin Franklin, was over 80. Many delegates well educated. (Few people went to college at the time). 26 of the delegates had college degrees. Native Americans, African Americans, and women were not represented. Not considered part of the political process at that time. Washington and Franklin at the Convention = public trust. Trust important; produced an entirely new constitution, (not just changing the AOC.) Some questioned whether the Convention had such authority. James Madison - supporter of a strong national government - kept a record of the convention's work. Madison often called the "Father of the Constitution" because he was the author of the basic plan of government that the Convention adopted.

The Convention Organizes The delegates chose George Washington to lead the meetings. Delegates also decided that each state would have one vote on all questions.

11 The Convention Organizes The delegates chose George Washington to lead the meetings. Delegates also decided that each state would have one vote on all questions. Decisions would be based on a majority vote of the states present. Sessions were not open to the public. In fact, the windows were closed in the sweltering heat to keep anyone from listening in. This made it possible for the delegates to talk freely.

12 The Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph, Virginia opened the Convention the Virginia Plan that called for a strong national government. The plan - largely the work of James Madison - created a government with three branches: a two-house legislature, a chief executive chosen by the legislature, and a court system. The legislature would have powers to tax, regulate trade, and veto state laws. Voters would elect members of the lower house of the legislature. The members of the lower house would then choose members of the upper house. In both houses the number of representatives would be proportional to the population of each state. States such as Virginia would have many more delegates than Delaware, the state with the fewest number of people. Delegates from the small states objected- wanted equal representation. Opponents of the Virginia Plan rallied around William Paterson of New Jersey. On June 15, he presented another plan. This plan amended the Articles of Confederation, which was all the Convention had the power to do.

13 The New Jersey Plan Under this plan, the legislature would have a single house, with each state having one vote. Paterson argued: Convention should not deprive smaller states of the equality they had under the Articles. The New Jersey plan gave Congress the power to set taxes, regulate trade, and elect an executive branch made up of more than one person. In sum, the New Jersey Plan favored a more powerful government than existed under the Articles but a less powerful government than the Virginia Plan proposed. Explaining: Why did New Jersey's delegates object to the Virginia Plan?

June 19, states voted to work toward a new constitution based on the Virginia Plan. Difficult issue remained: representation that divided the large and small states.

14 The Great Compromise Guiding Question: What compromises were reached in the new Constitution? Delegates had to decide whether to revise the Articles of Confederation or write a new constitution. June 19, states voted to work toward a new constitution based on the Virginia Plan. Difficult issue remained: representation that divided the large and small states. The Convention appointed a committee to settle the disagreement. The Great compromise proposed different representation in the two-house legislature. The upper house the Senate each state would have two members(equal representation for all states.) The lower house the House of Representatives the number of seats

The Three-Fifths Compromise How to count each state's enslaved population? Including enslaved people as part of a state's population would increase each Southern state's size.

15 The Three-Fifths Compromise How to count each state's enslaved population? Including enslaved people as part of a state's population would increase each Southern state's size. This would give Southern states more seats in Congress. The Southern states liked this, and the Northern states did not. BUT: larger populations would increase each Southern state's taxes, because states were to be taxed based on their populations. The South was not happy about this. As a solution to this dispute, delegates agreed to what was called the Three-Fifths Compromise. As part of this compromise, every five enslaved persons would count as three persons in the state's population total. This population total would be the basis for setting taxes and representation in Congress. The Northern states had already banned the slave trade. They wanted to prohibit it nationwide. Southern states considered slavery central to their economy. Northerners agreed to keep the new Congress from interfering with the slave trade until 1808.

At the Convention, some delegates worried that without a bill of rights, the new national government might abuse its power.

16 Debating a Bill of Rights State constitutions such as those of Virginia and Massachusetts had a listing of key rights and freedoms. These are known as a declaration of rights, or a bill of rights. At the Convention, some delegates worried that without a bill of rights, the new national government might abuse its power. George Mason of Virginia proposed a bill of rights to be included in the Constitution. The delegates defeated this idea. Most of the delegates believed that the Constitution carefully defined government powers and provided enough protection of individual rights.

Gerry and Mason would not sign because the Constitution did not have a bill of rights. Randolph, who had put forth the Virginia Plan, felt the final document strayed too far from his own beliefs.

17 Approving the Constitution September 17, 1787, the delegates assembled to sign the Constitution they had created. Three delegates refused to sign Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, and Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia. Gerry and Mason would not sign because the Constitution did not have a bill of rights. Randolph, who had put forth the Virginia Plan, felt the final document strayed too far from his own beliefs. The other delegates did sign the document. The approved draft of the Constitution went out to the states for their approval. Under the Articles of Confederation, all 13 states would have had to accept any change. The drafters of the new Constitution decided, however, that the document would go into effect with the approval of just 9 of the 13 states. Explaining: What compromises were reached concerning enslaved people?

Convention. Guide to Reading

Convention. Guide to Reading Convention and Compromise Main Idea The new Constitution corrected the weaknesses of government under the Articles of Confederation. Key Terms depression, manumission, proportional, compromise 1784 Rhode